Akron officials are offering a tax amnesty for residents who are behind on their city income taxes. They tried it this year with businesses and now they are telling individual taxpayers “Let’s make a deal.” WKSU’s Mark Urycki has details.

A business tax amnesty in February netted 250 thousand dollars in overdue taxes plus investigators identified another 800 thousand dollars in taxes and penalties that are now being pursued. Tax Commissioner Don Smith says the city may get even more from individuals.

"While the typical amount an indicudual would owe is less than a business would owe we are anticipating the number of individual tax returns that have not been filed would far exceed what we've seen in the business section."

The city of Dayton brought in almost one million dollars from individuals and it has a smaller tax base than Akron. Smith says Akron will waive penalties during the amnesty period but after that it will prosecute.

"This year, with the help of our law department we have sent them just under 500 cases. We expect that number will increase throughout the end of the year. We will have doubled last year's tax collection efforts which was a doubling of the year before. "

Akron’s tax amnesty begins on Monday and lasts four weeks.

Individuals seeking amnesty may contact the Income Tax Division by: Emailing: amnesty@akronohio.gov Calling the Audit—Individual Section at (330) 375-229 Further information is available at the City of Akron’s website, including FAQ, www.akronohio.gov